Four UW-L graduates — Darryle Clott, Chad Hammerschmidt, Elice Rogers and BerNadette Lawson-Williams — have been named the university's top alumni for 2008. The four, along with the university's top graduating seniors — John Lauermann, Gustav Borstad, Ryan VanLoo, Bjorn Bergman, Hollie Nyseth and Mary Jo Michels — and retiring employees, will be honored during a reception Friday, May 16, in the Cleary Alumni & Friends Center.

UW-L to recognize distinguished alumni, students
Four UW-L graduates have been named the university's top alumni for 2008. La Crosse Holocaust educator Darryle Clott, who earned a bachelor's degree in 1966 and a master's in 1971, will receive the Maurice O. Graff Distinguished Alumnus Award. The award recognizes alumni who have brought honor and distinction to the university.

Also, Wright State University Assistant Professor Chad Hammerschmidt, who received degrees in 1997 and '99, and Cleveland State University Associate Professor Elice Rogers, who earned degrees in 1983, '89 and '91, will receive the Rada Distinguished Alumnus Award, which recognizes alumni from the last 20 years who have achieved professional distinction and taken part in humanitarian activities. And, Johnson C. Smith University Assistant Professor BerNadette Lawson-Williams, who earned a master's in 1997, will receive the Multicultural Alumni Award, which recognizes multicultural graduates who have achieved distinction in their field.

The four, along with the university's top graduating seniors and retiring employees, will be honored during a reception Friday, May 16, in the Cleary Alumni & Friends Center. The reception runs from 5:30-6:30 p.m., followed by an awards ceremony at 6:30. Tickets are $20 per person; reservations are due Wednesday, May 7, at the UW-L Alumni Association, 785.8495.

Students being honored, and the awards they are receiving, include:

• John Lauermann and Gustav Borstad, The Murphy Awards for Academic Excellence, which recognize the university's top two graduating scholars as chosen by a committee;
• Ryan VanLoo, The Jake and Janet Hoeschler Award for Excellence, which recognizes a College of Business Administration graduate for academic accomplishment and leadership on and off campus;
• Bjorn Bergman, The Strzelczyk Award in Science and Health, which recognizes an outstanding senior in the College of Science and Health;
• Hollie Nyseth, The John E. Magerus Award for the Outstanding Graduating Senior from the College of Liberal Studies, which recognizes an outstanding senior in the college for academic accomplishments, leadership, and involvement in the campus and community;
• Mary Jo Michels, UW-La Crosse Graduate Thesis Award, which recognizes a graduate student who has written the best graduate thesis, based on originality, impact and written quality.

Those retiring and being honored include: Lloyd Arenz, Landscape Services; James  A. Batesky, exercise and sport science; Terry Beck, English; John Bender, Information Technology; Gale Buchholtz, Campus Stores; Louise Campbell, modern languages; Robert Carney, finance; Gerry Cox, sociology/archaeology; Helen Ewoldt, Residence Life; Margaret Falls, health professions; Lawrence Forkash, educational studies; Duane Gabel, Residence Life; Marilyn Kendhammer, Financial Aid; Linda Kessler, exercise and sport science; Judith Lezotte, management; Gary MacDonald, art; Jeffrey Maier, Residence Life; J. Leslie Oganowski, health education/health promotion; David Piehl, communication studies; Johanna Stephenson, Murphy Library; Allen Torstveit, Maintenance; Patrick Verse, Physical Plant; William Wehrs, Information Systems; Dean Wilder, geography/earth science; and Clifford H. Zirkel III, Counseling and Testing.

Kudos

Physical Therapy Graduate Ron Lawrence; and Tom Kernozek and Paul Reuteman, both health professions, published "Influences of Hip External Rotation Strength on Knee Mechanics During Single-leg Drop Landings in Females" in Clinical Biomechanics (Bristol, Avon). 2008.
Gregory Chu, geography, gave an invited presentation in April to the Juneau County Steering Committee for the Division of Health.  His presentation was on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and public health and the importance of the use of spatial thinking to solve health problems in county government.
Virginia Crank, English Department, gave a keynote address, "Cognitive Growth and the 'Duties' of the English Teacher," and led a discussion session, "The Place of Grammar in Writing," at a conference for Wisconsin high school and college English teachers, "Bridging the Divide: Preparing High School Writers for First-Year College Composition," April 11 at UW-Platteville.
Carl Foster and John Porcari, both exercise and sport science, had a chapter of exercise physiology published in the American Council on Exercise Lifestyle and Weight Management Consultant Manual.
Jon Hageseth, Counseling and Testing, presented "Mental Health Issues" and Larry Ringgenberg, University Centers, presented "Adult Student Development/Learning;" and  at the UW System Adult Advisers Meeting April 28 in Baraboo.
Tom Link, Student Support Services, presented "Eugenics, Euthanasia and People With Disabilities: The Past, the Present, the Future?" April 23 at the eighth annual Multiple Perspectives on Access, Inclusion and Disability Conference at The Ohio State University.
Cecilia Manrique, political science/public administration, gave a presentation on the Philippines to the International Club of Tomah High School on March 19. Additionally, she had a review of the book "Qmail Quickstarter: Install, Set up and Run Your Own Email Server" by K. Wheeler published in the March 26 issue of Computing Reviews. April 3-6, Manrique attended the Midwest Political Science Association Meeting in Chicago where she delivered the paper "Technology Drives the East Asian Tigers," and served as a discussant on a panel on "Digital Technology and Politics."
Lalita Pandit, English, presented the keynote address "Widowhood Taboos, Kriya-Yoga and Freedom: Rabindranath Tagore's Binodini" at the conference on Asian Subcontinent Today: Issues and Answers March 31 and April 1. The conference was organized by the International Office of the Kutztown University of Pennsylvania.
Patrick T. Randolph, English as a Second Language, received a poetry award from the Rockford Review. His poem "Winter Classroom" received second place honors in this year's "Ides of March" national poetry contest. His poem will appear in the summer issue of the review. Randolph's poetry will also appear in Free Verse Magazine, The 2008 Wisconsin Poets' Calendar and Storyteller. Randolph is currently editing a poetry anthology on the homeless and the hungry. Proceeds from the book will go to Wisconsin-based food and homeless shelters.
Jim Wiener, River Studies Center, presented the invited paper "Contaminants in the Upper Mississippi River: Historic Trends, Present Status and Emerging Concerns" April 25 at the 40th Annual Meeting of the Mississippi River Research Consortium in Dubuque, Iowa. Mark Sandheinrich, biology, River Studies Center, coauthored the paper.